Quotes from the Miller's Tale

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Introduction

Quotes from the Miller's Tale CHARACTERS John "A riche gnof"p33 A new emerging class bringing conflict to hierarchy emphaised trough word gnof lots of different words Chaucer uses analogue "deemed himself been lik a cokewold" p34 Prolepsis foreshadows tale builds tension takes away sympathy for John "he knew nat Cauton" p34 Shows he is not intelligent or educated due to allusion "Myn housbande is so ful of jalousie"p36 One of John's flaws emphasised through simile "The carpenter was goon till Osenay"p39 Associates him with religion and lack of knowledge as large abbey there "I am adrad, by Seint Thomas, It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas. God shilde that he deid sodeeinly"p40 Black death clich� Men shoulde nat knowe of Goddes privitee."p41 Proleptic warning John did not want vernacular bible as reduced Catholic churches power to tell people what to do "Jhesu Crist and Seinte Benedight, Blesse this hous from every wikked wight, For nightes verye, the whire pater-noster! Where wentestow Seinte Petres soster?"p42 This is part of the night spell part rubbish it is a satirical comment by Chaucher on John embracing his ignorance "I shal it nevere telle To child ne wyf" p43 Irony as does tell "As dooth the white doke after hire drake"p45 Emphasises john's childlike nature as there is a childlike expression and simile employed for him "to his wyf he tolde his privitee"p46 Ironic told ...read more.

Middle

to hell "A clerk hadde litherly biset his while,But id he koudde a carpenter bigile"p40 Arrogant prophetic for the 2nd misdirected kiss the language such as litherly reminds us that it is a fablieu so the hero is a trickster not a moral character "now at Monday next, at quarter night, shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood, that half so greet was nevere Noes flood."p43 Juxtaposition of biblical story with petit bourgeois details such as exact time contributes to the satirical element of the Canterbury tales at undercutting of middle class pretentiousness emphasises by alliteration of w also ironic as goes against the covenant which Nicholas is aware of as he can speak Latin but John is not as he cannot read Latin but is against the vernacular ironic as he brings about his own downfall "Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute"p44 Allelogry this adds humour as he means he will save her from a non existent sex life "doun the ladder stalketh Nicholay"p47 Emphasises his masculinity through the hunting image "Then Nicholas anon leet fle a fart"p52 Response to courtly lover's speech "The hoote kultour brende so his toute" p52 Punished for retelling a joke emphasised through synonym for bottom and reference to Edward III and Isabel the she-wolf of France at Barclay castle Absolon His rode was reed , his eyen greye ...read more.

Related AS and A Level Geoffrey Chaucer essays

Such trips even took on the qualities of holidays at the shrines, with people like Chaucer's Pardoner selling holy "relics", and souvenir stands set up along the route. For some people, like the Wife of Bath, it was the only way to escape the pressures of home, especially for a woman.

The portrayed dominance of Januarie in this scene is somewhat ironic, and is maybe even a literary trick by Chaucer to deceive the reader, as well as providing a form of prolepsis for the later dominance of May - her name aptly representing a month of rejuvenation and brightness.

He is referenced to a eunuch, being described as a 'geldyng or a mare' - carrying connotations of a possible homosexual relationship with the summoner whom he rode with, who 'bar to hym a stiff burdoun'. This idea of homosexuality can be construed as a criticism of the church as

which could show this lack of love for him. Therefore, her motivation for adultery could be seen as an action of revenge, as January assaulted May by marrying her, and not out of affection for Damien. This is satire on the whole theme of courtly love.

Discretion is paramount, as Alison warns Nicholas that their lovemaking must be "privee" else if John found out he would kill her. Nicholas, in order to ensure that their lovemaking is secret, formulates an elaborate plan. This highlights his intellect and his cunning, and also reminds the reader of the

him, and proves his manly desire to be animal like in marriage, i.e. wanting the unison of him and his new wife to be purely about sex. Chaucer's imagery in the poem helps the reader to understand characters such as the Merchant as he refers to older women as 'Bene-straw' and 'greet forage'.

An example is how he swings the 'sencer' which he swings back and forth in the church so as to impress the women of the parish. However, because of the overpowering smell of incense Absolon would be making people wretch rather than for them to fall in love with him.

rather than just committing the adulterous act, it?s her ticket to marry the next bachelor as an excuse to satisfy her sexual desires. Of course, as the audience, we know this is not how the mind of a normal person works, indeed making the wife of Bath a comical character mentally as well as physically.